Actuating mechanism for pressing machines



E. lam/11s ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYJS,

Aug. 7, 1928. 7 1,679,815

E. DAVIS ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING'MACHINES Filed 001;. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-:Sheet 2 BY H A TTORNEYS,

E. WAVES ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHIKJES Filed 001;. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS ltl ing my invention.

Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST DAVIS, OF SYRAbUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY,

INC., OI SYRACUSE, NEW YORK,

' acrua'rme mncnamsm A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

FOR PRESSING MACHINES.

Application filed October 5, 1926. Serial No. 139,726.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garment and laundry pressing machines and particularly machines used in tailor shops or for pressing garments, and has for its object a particularly s'mple and efficient means operable at the will of .the operator for alternately partly releasing and fully applying the pressure to the movable element or press head so as to get a sort of patting action on the garment.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and. constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. lin describing this invention,- reference is had to the accompanying draw ngs in WlllCll like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of a garment pressing machine embody- ]Figure 2 is a perspective, partly diagrammatic view of the control mechanism for the motor means of themachine shown in F1gure 1.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the valve mechanism for controlling the operation of a second motor or motor which effects the patting operation.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, in pressing a garment on a foot operated machine, the operator efiects an oscillating movement or patting movement of the head on the garment by a sort of {umping up and down action on the peda', this being analogous to the operation by a tailor when pressing a garment with an iron where till he applies the iron and afterwards slaps the place previously occupied by the-iron with a paddle.

This invention comprises a pressing machine which is operated by power and includes means for so controlling the power that such patting or slapping action can be obtained.

This pressing machine comprises, generally, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating .the movable element including a mptor means, motion transmitting mechanism between the motor means and the movable element. and operator controlled means for varying the pressure applied by the power means.

The motor means preferably includes a plurality of individual motors, one of which when operated acts in opposition to the other on the motion transmitting mechanism [through which the power is applied to the head so that by operating the control of a second motor the maximum power of the first motor is alternately fully applied and weakened to the extent of the power and leverage of the second motor. The motors are fluid motors or pressure operated motors.

The pressing machine itself may be of any suitable form, size and construction, that here shown including a lower pressing element or buck 1 supported from the main frame 2, and an upper pressing element or head 3 movable toward and from the buck 1, the head being carried by the usual yoke lever 4 pivoted between its ends at 5 to an upright 6 rising from the frame. The rear arm of the yoke lever carries a suitable counterbalancing weight 7 which normally tends to move the yoke lever 4 to open the press. Also, counterbalancing springs may be used in connection with the counterweight, one of such springs being shown at '8. The head 3 is actuated through suitable motion transmitting mechanism including the yoke 1 and motion transmitting parts including toggle links 9 and 10 pivoted together at 11, the link 9 being pivoted at 12 to the rear arm of the lever 4: and the link 10 being pivoted at its lower end at 13 to the frame and having a forwardly extending arm 14 rigid therewith to which the power is applied from one of the motors.

The motor here shown is a cylinder with a piston movable therein and 15 designates the cylinder and 16 the piston movable therein and 17 the piston rod, this rod being ,pivoted at 18 to the front end of the lever or arm 14. The cylinder is pivoted at 19 to the frame at its upper end so that it oscillates during the movement of the piston therein. The piston is single acting and is moved in one direction by a motive fluid entering the upper end of the cylinder and in the other direction by the counterweight 7 acting through; the toggle links 9, 10 andpower'arm 14.

The means for controlling the flow of motive fluid as air to the cylinder 15 is practically the same as that in my Patent No. 1,609,273 granted November 30, 1926 and Includes generally a main feed pipe 20 for a motive fluid as compressed air, a valve cas ing 21 connected in said pipe, 2. combined intake and exhaust pipe 22 leading from the valve casing 21 to a combined intake and exhaust port 23 formed in the head at the .upper end of the cylinder 15, the port 23 .opening at 24 into the cylinder.

The combined intake and exhaust valves are located in the valve casing 21, and 25 designates the intake valve and 26 the exhaust valve connected to the intake valve by a stem 27 so that the valves act as a unit. The exhaust valve isnormally open'and the intake valve normally closed and is held closed by the air pressure and also by a spring 28. The combined valves are operated by a handle as a button or actuator 29 acting on a lever 30 pivoted at 31 to a suitable frame element and having a short arm 32 which acts on a stem 33 of the normally open ex-' haust valve 26. The arm 32 acts on the stem 33 through a lever 34 to be presently described.

When the button 29 is depressed, obviously, the exhaust valves 26 will be closed and -the intake valve 25 opened permitting air phragm 39 of which acts through a stem 40' on the lever34 to hold the combined valves 25 and 26 in their manually operated position. Preferably, two manuals or buttons are provided in order that two hands must be used to effect the closing of the press. This second manual or button will now be described.

42 designates the second manual or button corresponding to the manual or button 29 and acting on alever 43 similar to the lever 30 which in turn acts on the stem 44 of an exhaust valve located in the casin 45, the lever 43 acting on the lever 46 simi an to the lever 34. The exhaust valve 44 is normally open and unless it is closed by depressing the button 42 when the button 29 is depressed, thefair passingfrom the main line 20 through the" valve casing 21and pipe 22 -will exhaust out through the valve casing 45 past the valve 44 instead of passing into the cylinder through the port 23. However, when this button 42 is held depressed so that the valve 44 is closed, obviously, the air must pass from the pipe 22' into the cylinder through the passage 23.

The exhaust valve 44 is held in its operated position by a diaphra m chamber 47 similar to the diaphragm c amber 38 and having a diaphragm 48 therein acting on the lever 46 inthe samemanner that the diaphragm' 39 acts on the lever 34. The die.-

by means of a handle lever 53. The pipe 52 communicates with the diaphragm chambers 47 and 38 and obviously when the valve 50 is open, the air will exhaust from these diaphragm chambers permitting the exhaust valves 44 and 26 to open and the intake valve 25 to close. When the exhaust valves are open, obviously, the air exhausts from the cylinder through the passage 23 and pipe 22 past the valves 26 and 44.

The piston 16 is here shown as provided with a spring pressed valve 54 projecting in advance of the piston and acting to retard the outflow of air through the port 24 and thus preventing a sudden opening of the press. Also, this valve 54 likewise prevents a sudden inrush of the air through the port 24. In other words, this valve 54 retards the intake of the air during the beginning of the power stroke and retards the outflow of air during the end of the exhaust stroke. 55 is the spring located in the piston rod 17 and acting on the rod 56 of the valve 54.

The second motor which acts in opposition to the piston 15 is also a cylinder 60 and a piston 61 movable therein having its rod 62 extending into the path of one of the parts of the motion transmitting mechanism as the toggle link 10 to be engaged by said toggle link when the toggle is in its final or straightened osition. This motor is also single acting an the active end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe 63 to a valve casing 64 which is connected through a valve control pipe 65 to the valve casing 21 so that when the intake valve 25 is open, air will also pass from this valve casing 21 to the valve casin 64 and pipe 63 to the cylinder 61 when tie valve in said pipe 65 is open.

66 designates the valve in the casing 64, this valve being normally pressed toward its seat by a spring 67 and having its stem 68 arranged to be depressed to open the valve, the stem being shown as arranged under the end of a lever 69 pivoted at 70 in the valve casing and connected to a rod 71 which is acted'upon by an operating lever or handle 72. Ordinarily, the motor consisting of the cylinder 60 and the piston 61 is idle and does not function and the valve 66 is closed when the lever 72 is in its full line position, Fig. 3. However, by moving the lever to its lower dotted line position .72, Fig. 3, the valve 66 will be open so that when the manuals or buttons 29 and 42 are actuated, air will pass from the valve casing 21 through the pipe 65, past the open valve 66 through the valve casing 64 and pipe 63 to the notiveend of the cylinder 60 and thus actuate the piston therein to force or partly open the toggle from its position shown in full lines Figures 1 and 2 to that shown in dotted lines.

The manual control for this motor consisting of the cylinder 60 and the piston 61 further includes means for exhausting the air from the cylinder 60, this means consisting of a bypass 73 connected to the pipe 63 and to a valve casing 74 having a normally .closed valve 75 therein and an exhaust port 76 closed by said valve, the valve 75 being held in its closed position by a spring 77. This valve is actuated by the rod 71 acting on the stem 78 of the valve 75 so that when the handle 72 is moved from titl neutral position to its upper dotted line position 72, this valve 75 will be opened so that air can exhaust from the cylinder through the pipe '63, bypass 72 past the valve out through the outlet passage 76 thus permitting the toggle to be again straightened under the pressure of the piston 16 trom its dotted line position, Figures 1 and 2 to its full line position.

When the valve 75 is open, the valve 66 is closed and when the lever 72 is in neutral osition, bot-h valves are closed. The chamer within the valve casing 64 is made air tightby diaphragms 79 and 80 which serve the purpose of packing and the rod-71 is clamped on the diaphragms by plates 81.

Ubviously, when the press is closed, upon successive movements of the lever 72 from the dotted line position 72 into dotted line,

position 72 and vice versa, air will alternately enter into and exhaust from the cylinder 60 and the motor will alternately partly open the toggle consisting of the links 9, 10 and permit it to close thus effecting a patting action on the work on the buck 1.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other. means for actuating the movable element including power 'rneans, motion transmitting mechanism between the power means and the movable element, operator actuated means for controlling the actuation of the power means and additional operated controlled means for varying the power delivered through said mechanism. I

2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including power means, motion transmitting mechanism between the power means and the mov- .able element, operator actuated means for controlling the actuation of the power means and additional operator controlled means for momentarily decreasing and restoring to its original power the force applied by said mechanism to the movable pressing element.

3. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of. which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including two fluid operated motors and mechanism for transmitting the movement of one of said motors to the movable element, the other of said motors acting in opposition to the former motor, means for controlling the flow of fluid to said motors and means for alternately cutting in and cutting out the latter motor.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other means for ac tuating the movable element including a pair of power motors, motion transmitting mechanism between the motors and the movable element, operator-controlled means for controlling the actuation of the motors and additional operator operated means for alternately cutting out and cutting in one of the motors.

5. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a pair of cylinders, and pistons movable in the cylinders and motion transmitting mechanism, both pistons being arranged to act on said mechanism, operator operated means for controlling the fiow of motive fluid to the cylinders and additional operator operated means for alternately cutting out and cutting in one of the cylinders.

6. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperatin pressin elements, one of which is movable towar and from the other, means for actuating the movable element to close the press including a power motor and motion transmitting mechanism bet-ween the a motor and the movable element, a second motor arranged to act on said mechanism in opposition to the first motor when the press is closed, means tending to open the press,

manual means for controlling the operation of the first motor, and additional manual means for controlling the operation of the a second motor.

7. Ina pressing machine, the combination of. cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element to close the press including a power motor and motion transmitting mechanism between the motor and the movable element, a secondv motor arranged to act on said mechanism in opposition to the first motor when the press is'closed, means tending to open the press, manual means for controlling the operation of the first motor and additional manual means for controlling the operation of the A ing a part arranged in the path of said mechanlsm and arranged to act on said mechanism in opposition to the first motor when the press is closed, manual means for controlling the operation of the first motor and additional manual means for controlling the operation of the second motor while the first motor is under pressure.

9. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element to close the press including a power motor and motion transmitting mechanism between the power member and the movable element including a toggle, a second motor and a part actuated thereby arranged in the path of the toggle to be engaged thereby as the toggle approaches straightened position, the second motor being arranged to act through the toggle in opposition to the first motor, means for controlling the operation of the first motor and additional means for controlling the operation of the second motor, while the first motor is under pressure.

10. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating prssing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element to close the press including a fluid operated motor and a reciprocating part actuated thereby, motion transmitting mechanism between said part and the movable element, a second fluid operated motor including a reciprocating part arranged in the path of movement of a part of said mechanism and to engage said part when the press is closed, means for controlling the operation of the first motor and additional means for controlling the opcration of the second motor.

11. The pressing machine of claim 10 in which each motor is-a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder and the reciprocating partsof the motors are piston rods.

12. The pressing 'machine of claim 10 in which each motor is a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder and the reciprocating part of the motor is a piston rod, and in which the motion transmitting means includes a toggle movable into engagement with the reciprocating part of the second motor as the toggle straightens and the second motor acts to move the straightened toggle out of straightened position. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 13th day of Sept, 1926.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

